- YCH's latest facility is set to capture a larger pie of the thriving electronics market in Kunshan by serving as a key logistics enabler to the numerous MNC electronic players in the satellite city

Kunshan, CHINA, 25 September 2012 - Leading Singapore-based logistics and supply chain management (SCM) company YCH Group today conducted the groundbreaking ceremony to kick start the development of its latest supply chain facility - the YCH Kunshan DistriPark™, in the strategically located Jiangsu Kunshan Export Processing Zone (EPZ), China. Performed in the presence of Mayor of Kunshan Mr. Lu Jun and Deputy Consul-General in Shanghai Mr. Chi Chiew Sum who were among the various VIPs that witnessed the momentous event, this will see a 360, 000 sq. feet state-of-the-art logistics facility being developed to dedicatedly service the pulsating MNC electronic, optical and precision machinery manufacturing scene in Kunshan.

Estimated to be completed by Q3 of 2013, YCH's latest development represents its resolve to target a larger market of what is now well-established as one of China's largest manufacturing hubs for the electronics industry. Fully equipped with YCH's cutting-edge RFID technology solution, advanced security systems and extensive reach-trucks operations, the estimated RMB 120 million project will offer world-class supply chain infrastructure including 21,000 pallet locations and 25 loading bays, as well as comprehensive customs documentation capabilities and a wide range of value-added and customised fulfillment services.

Kunshan Mayor Mr. Lu Jun highlighted his excitement towards YCH's new facility in Kunshan. He said, "We are pleased to have YCH select Kunshan as one of their choice supply chain destinations in China. Given YCH's proven track record of supply chain innovation and excellence for globally-renowned electronic MNCs over the years, we believe this new development will be well-synergised with Kunshan's growing sophistication in the electronics manufacturing sector."

Kunshan, which has been consecutively ranked top on Forbes China�s list of "Best County-Level Cities" from 2009 to 2011, has attracted large investments from Taiwan electronics contract manufacturers who in turn supply the likes of Dell, Apple and Hewlett-Packard. Rising from the earlier stages of industrial development as a cost-effective production centre which churns out many of the world�s notebook computers, Kunshan has since leveraged on its economic and social resources � a combination of low labour costs, plentiful land, and close proximity to Shanghai's commercial resources � and moved into more sophisticated electronics manufacturing such as the opto-electronics sector, which includes the production of next generation thin-film-transfer liquid crystal displays ("TFT-LCDs"). Today, according to various reports, more than half of the world's laptops are being manufactured in Kunshan.

Chairman & CEO of YCH Group, Dr. Robert Yap, affirmed the significance of Kunshan as an important gateway in YCH's East China network. "Kunshan is an essential network point to develop as YCH increases its depth in our Pan-China network. The city's strong appetite for innovation, coupled with its endeavor to become a technology powerhouse, is a perfect fit for us to continue developing our niche for electronics SCM. We also look forward to proliferating industry best practices and our award-winning SCM solutions, while growing in tandem with Kunshan as it becomes an electronics frontrunner of the world," said Dr. Yap.

YCH is one of the pioneer Singapore firms to enter the Chinese market, in Shanghai in the mid 1990s. It has since built a comprehensive logistics network in the country with presence in gateway cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Kunshan, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Macau and Hong Kong servicing MNC customers such as Dell, Motorola, ExxonMobil, Compal and Samsung.

Since YCH's early foray into the electronics industry in the 1990s when the company clinched its first regional logistics partnership with then PC giant Compaq Asia to set up and manage its manufacturing logistics on a Just-In-Time (JIT) production basis, the company has moved up the value chain f the electronics industry; developing both depth and breadth in industry-specific knowledge while pioneering solutions for the world's largest integrated communication companies, PC providers and Original Design Manufacturers ("ODMs"). Foreseeing an unmatched growth momentum in Kunshan's electronics industry as the sector continues to mature and move up the production chain, the YCH Kunshan DistriPark™ is thus an opportune venture as the company gears up to better serve the more complex needs of the budding sector.

About YCH Kunshan

A critical constituent of YCH�s East China network, YCH Kunshan has been a robust provider of end-to-end SCM services ranging from warehousing, transportation management, import/export clearance, customs documentation, VMI and customized fulfillment services for global MNCs such as Dell, ExxonMobil, Compal, Wistron, Foxconn and Samsung. Set up in 2008, YCH Kunshan operates one of the most comprehensive multi-services hubs within the YCH China network. With a proven track record for delivering seamless connectivity and efficient management of raw materials from production lines to finished goods distribution of world renowned high-end electronic products, one of its key activities include running a 10,000 square metre Vendor Management Inventory (VMI) hub in support of Dell�s key Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) that include Compal and Wistron. YCH Kunshan has also played an integral part to activities relating to Dell�s Custom Fulfillment Services (CFS) by providing a range of value added services like merging and kitting, as well as other customised fulfillment services to the brand�s products. The regional office�s significant contribution to Kunshan City�s supply chain industry and economic growth earned it the �Founding Enterprise of Modern Logistics in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province - Outstanding Advanced Modern Logistics Enterprise� award from the Kunshan government in September 2010.

About the upcoming YCH Kunshan DistriPark™

Being situated within the Kunshan Economic and Technological Development Zone (ETDZ) sets it in close proximity to China's key transportation infrastructure and links it to vital commercial resources of East China. This includes propinquity to Shanghai�s two international airports, the Shanghai Port and its national railway and highways � giving the DistriPark�s geographical convenience a superior advantage to the City's hotbed of OEMs, ODMs, brand owners and suppliers in the Electronics, IT & High-tech clusters. Electronic MNCs can thus continue to produce their goods in a first-tier city business environment but at a fraction of business costs compared to metropolitan cities like Shanghai. The eco-friendly and energy-efficient YCH DistriPark is also working towards being awarded the Gold Status for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

About YCH Group

Founded in 1955, YCH Group is the leading integrated end-to-end supply chain management and logistics partner to some of the world's largest companies, including Dell, Motorola, Samsung, LG, Exxon Mobil, Unilever, LVMH and Royal FrieslandCampina. YCH Group's suite of innovative award-winning end-to-end supply chain management solutions - Intribution™, Intrabution™, Retrogistics™, Y-Merge™ and V-Hub™ - employ cutting edge web-technologies that are best-in-class across industry clusters from consumer and electronics to chemical and healthcare, to deliver powerful competitive advantages for customers. The Singapore-based company currently operates throughout Asia-Pacific, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Australia, China, India, Vietnam and Korea.

A strong proponent of innovation, YCH is recognized for its 7PL™ approach in seamlessly integrating supply chain strategy with execution to attain success in the SCM industry. YCH attained the highly-regarded Singapore Innovation Class in October 2005 and clinched Top Honours as Winner of the IDC Enterprise Innovation Awards 2010. As a forerunner in worldwide supply chain security, YCH is the first recipient of the ISO 28000: 2007 certification for excellent security management in the global SCM industry. YCH also won the prestigious National Infocomm Award 2008 for its RFID-enabled �High Performance Supply Chain Nerve Centre� and was conferred the 'Asian 3PL of the Year� award by Supply Chain Asia for four consecutive times from 2007 to 2010. More recently, YCH was named �Most Admired Large Enterprise (Innovation)� in the high-level ASEAN Business Awards 2010 and �Enterprise of the Year� at the Singapore Business Awards 2011.